Vacuum massage-machine.



N. LOMBARD. VACUUM MASSAGE MAGHINE.

APPLIGATION FILED FEB. 10, 1909.

944,737. Patented Dec. 28, 1 909.

. I .T VENTOR-Q m HS m 11ml ii primarily, to produce a device embodying a stimulation or cupplng action imparted to more delicate parts of the body when indi- '50 regulated in intensity through the medium iorrn d aries irnr OFFICE. I

NATHANIEL LOMBABD, or AKRON, oriro;

vacuum MASSAGE-MACHINE.

nearer.

To all whom it my concern: p v

Be it known that I, NATHANIEL LOMBARD,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Akron, in the county of Summitand State '5 of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Vacuum Massage-Machines,

of which the following is a specification.

i This invent-ion relates to a device for massage purposes and the objects thereof are,

and piece provided with a cup-shaped tool adapted to be applied to a surface of the human body to efiect an action similar to the action of cupping thereon. 15 The invention further conten'iplates suit-. able mechanism for producing a partial vacuum in the tool carried by the hand piece, said hand piece provided with a valve for controlling the production. of said vacuum 20"in said tool without the necessity of interrupting the operation of the vacuun1-pro- 'ducing mechanism.

A still further object of the invention is to provide the vacuum-producing mechanism with a valve capable of being set at a definite position to control the withdrawal or exhaustion of the air or production of a vacuun1 in the cup-shaped tool, whereby when said tool is employed the amount of the parts upon which the same is used may be graduated to suit the diii'erent requirements of the various portions of the body, thus enabling the device to be used upon the ated and yet capable of being used to prouce an intense amount of stimulation or cupping action where necessary.

' The invention further contemplates providing a suitable mul'ller to reduce the noise incident to the operation of the device.

Broadly speaking, the invention contemplates providing a' constantiliy running instrumentality capable of pro ucing'a steady 4 5 withdrawal of air from a tool carried by a suitable hand piece whereby a partial vacuum is produced in said tool' capable of being interrupted. by a-valve carried b the hand piece and furth'ercapable of' eing of a valve capable of regulation mounted on the vacuumprodnning mechanism, said latter instrumentality provided with a muffler Specification amass Patent. Application filedfiehruary iii-190s. Serial 110. 477,153.

Patented nee. 28, 1909'.

for reducing the noise incident to the operation of the same. i The invention furtherprovides a hand piece having a socket adapted to receive in,

alternation cups of different sizes and shapes 1 arranged to fit or be applied to different. portions of the human body for causing stimulation thereof by the action'of the tool in drawing to'a selected part of the body the blood circulating in the immediate vicinity thereof for producing engorgement of the tissues, either to effect enlargement of the same as in the instance when used in connection with the female bust" or when used for surgical purposes in withdrawing poi sons from wounds, cuts, etc.,' fo'r prom'oting the growth of hair or in other special applications wherein a device of this could or may be employed.

Withthe foregoing and other objects in View, the. invention consists in the novel construct-ion, combination and arrangement of parts constituting the invention to be hereinafter specificallydescribed and illustrated,

in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof wherein is shown the preferred embodiment oft-he invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications can be resorted t8 which come within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings, in which similar reference numerals indicate like parts'in the different figures Figure. 1 is a perspective view of the entire device. Fig. 2 is a horizontal, sectional view of a hand piece used in connectionthrewith; and, Fig. 3 is a transverse, .sectional view. of the. vacuumproducing mechanism shown in Fig. l.

- Referringto the drawings in detail, the reference numeral 1 denotes a base mounted on which is a motor 2, preferably adapted to be operated by an electric current, although Mounted on the base 1 is a supporting member 4 ,hearing an integral casing 5 provided with two communicating cylindrical open ings 6 and 'Z. v

lilteunted on the shaft 3 or on a separate character .100 shaft 3 continuously in one direction.

shaft connected to and in alinement therewith and positioned in the opening 6 is a wide spur gear 8 having projecting from its outer end a stub shaft 9 and in the lower cylind ic-al opening 7 of the casing 5 is a spur gear 10 similar to the gear ti provided with aprojecting stub shaft ll. The casing is made with one closed end provided with a suitable aperture (not shown) to receive the shaft 3 or aishaft positioned in alinement therewith vand connected thereto with the balance of the end f said casing entirely closed. The opposite or front end of the casing 5 is closed by means of a cap 12 provided with a boss 13 suitably recessed to receive the ends of the stub shafts t) and 11, constituting bearings therefor. The gears 9 and 10 are of such a size as to nicely tit and form an approximately fluid -t"ight union with the interiors of the respective openings 6 and 7 in which they are positioned, and the axes of these two shafts are so placed with respect to each other that the gears will mesh so perfectly as to constitute a finial-tight union between them. The op posite sides of the casing?) are provided with similar threaded openings 1% and 15in one of which is positioned a nipple it having mounted thereon a valve casing 17 provided with a valve seat 18 the opening in which is arranged to be closed by a valve 15). The upper portion of the valve casing [T is provided with a threaded opening 30 adapted to receive the threaded lower end of a. tubular member 21. provided with a vertically-extending opening (in which is meanted a valve stem 22 connected at its lower end with the valve it). Mounted on the upper end of the valve stem 22 is a cap 23 to which is connected the upper end of-a coiled resilient element 24, the lower end of which is connected to a vertically-shiftable'collar 25 hearing a set. screw 26 mounted on the up wardly-extending portion of the member 21.

The opposite end of the valve casing 17 is provided with a threaded opening 27 constituting a socket to receive the threaded end of a hose connection 28 from which extends a flexible hose 29 hearing at its opposite end a threaded socket 230.

The socket 30 is adapted to receive the rear threaded end 31 of a hand piece 32 with a longitudinal opening 33 therein having the forward. end preferably downwardly bent terminating in an interiorly-threadcd socket 34. The'member 32 is provided with an opening intersecting the longitudinal open: ing 33 in which is mounted a transverselyshiftable valve 35 provided with a head 3t; and bearing a coiled resilient element 37. The medial portion of the valve 35 is provided with a reduced portion formed by a circumferential groove in the .body of the same which normally h -1o. out of alincment with the opening 213 through the medium of the coiled element 3?; but may be brought into alinement with the opening 3 3 hy pressure applied to the head 36 by the operators linger or thumb whereby when the groove 35 is in registering relation with the longitudinal opening 33, movement of a fluid through the latter is permitted. but when the valve 555 is in the position-shown in l ig. I; the opening 33 is cii'ectually closed.

Any form of cup may be employed in conucction with the hand piece provided the same is formed with a threaded perft'iratcd stem that can be cll'ectually secured in the socket l-l. in the drawings, the cup 39 is shown hemispherical in'i'orm with a beaded edge to atlord protection to the parts on which the same is employed, but any other shapc'may be used as desired.

Mounted in the opening 15 of the casing is a hollow stem -10 exteriorly thrcaded to be self-retaining and terminating at its outer end in a hollow preferably spherical inunbcr ll hereinafter designated as a mutlier, the upper portion'of which is provided with an opening adapted to be normally closed by a gravity valve 43 having a horizontal annular'fiange to seat on the member it around the opening therein.

The member ll. the opening in the stem l0 and the cavity in the casing 5 adjacent thereto arr adapted lobe t ed with a heavy oil to constitute a nutlller to reduce the noise incident to the operation of the device, the operation of which is as follows: Power of a suitable kind is applied to the motor L causing a revolution of the shaft 3 and gears it 8 and it). These revolve with great l speed and fitting snugly within the casing close engagement with each other will. when revolved in the direction of the arrows in Fig. 3, withdraw the air contained in the valve casing 17, the tubular member 29 and the opening33. if, during the operation ol the motor the valve 3.") in the hand piece is opened the air will be withdrawi'i from the interior of the cup through the various members just described and through the opening in the casing 5 and be tlrivcn by the movement of the gears which constitute fans or pumping devices for this purpose through the mutller ll from whence it escapes by slightly raising the valve 42. which, when the pressure lecreascs', innnediatcly returns to its seat. When the air passes through the mulllc-r it also passes through the oil contain d therein which etl'eclually reduces the noise incident to the escape thereof.

it will be obvious that when the tool 35') is applied to the human body and the valve opened a partial vacuum is formed in the cup 39 which produces a suction or cupping efiecftion the portion to which the same is applied, causing thereby great stimulation of -Of the;

e parts and in conformity to the wellknowat laws, blood will flow to the vicinity portions on which the cup is applied, thereby] producing artificial congestion or stiniaiation of the parts treated.

liiforder to regulate the strength or compleijeness of the vacuum or degree of stimulati on to be produced by this device the .valve 19 is employed; which is normally raised by the current of air passing through the tubul ai f member 29, but when it is desired to re- (lube the strength or completeness of the vacuum to be produced in the cup-shaped inember 39 the collzir 25 is moved down wardly onthe upwardlyextending portion of the member 21 and locked by the set screw 26 thereby increasing the force of the with a substantially constant degree 0 operative energy and when so adjusted the collar 25 may be locked in position through the medium of the set screw 26. It Will also be apparent that in setting up I 'device of this character and the motor is mill which runs in a direction reverse to that. shown in the drawings, the muflier l1 and nipple 16 ma be interchanged and the device Work wit equal eflicacy.

lVhat I claim and desire to secure by Le lOls Patent, is

I. A device of the class described comprising a supporting-instrumentality, a pumpcasing mounted thereon, ansexhaust pump positioned in said casing, a valve-casing in open communication with said purhp casing, a valve in said casing, resilient means for controlling the movement of said valve, a tubehaving one end connected to said valve.- vasing, a tubular hand-piece on the opposite end of said tube and a valve on said handpiece for controlling the passage of a fluid thcrothrough.

2. A device of the class described comprising a supporting-instrumentality, a casing mounted thereon, an exhaust pum positioned in said casing comprising a )liuality of inter-meshing gears, a motor or opcrating said gears, said gears adapted to-fit .--:nugly-within said casing, said casing provided with an inlet-opening, a valve-casingsaid valve-casing, means operating said valve for resiliently holding the same on its seat, a tube connected with said. valve-casing, a tubular hand-piece on the oppositesaid valve-casin means operating said valve for resiliently holding the same on its seat, a tube-connected with said valve-casing, a tubular hand-piece on the opposite end of said tube, a cup-shaped tool carried by said hand-piece and means for'regnlating the degree of pressure imposed on said valve by said resilient element.

4. A device of the class describedpomprising a supporting-instrumentality, a pump-casing mounted thereon, an exhaust pump mounted within said casing, a motor for operating said pump, said casing provided with inlet and exhaust-openings, a tube in open-communication with said inletopening, a tubular hand-piece connected with the o posite end of said, tube, a cup-v shaped too carried'by said hand-piece, a mufiler communicating With said exhaustopening provided with an aperture and a valve normally adapted to close said aperture.

5.'A device of the class described comprising a supporting-instrumentality, a pump-casing mounted thereon, a pump mounted within said casing, a motor for operating said pump, said casing provided with inlet and exhaust-openings, a tube in open communication with sai finlet-ppening, a tubular hand-piece connected with the opposite end ofsaid tube, a cup-shaped tool carried by said hand-piece, a muffler communicating with said exhaust-o ening provided with: an aperture adapte to contain a mufiiing fluid, and a valvenormally adapted pump positioned in said casing, a valve casing in open communication with said pump .casing,=a.valve insaid valve casing, means for controlling the movement of said valve, :1 tube having one end'connected to said valve casing, a tubular hand-piece carryin an. exhaust cup on the op osite end of ear tube and a muffler adapts toreceive. air ex-.

pelled from said valvecasing. i

A device of the'class described comprising :1 supporting instrunientality, :1 casiug' suppm'led llierel'n mid easing provided with an opening, a pair of intcrnieshing gears rotalably-niounted in said opening a luolur for causing continuoufi rotation of said gears, said, casing provided with inlet and ouilet openings, 2L "mnfiler connected with said oul'let opening, a valve casing eonnm-tedwvith said inlet 0pening,'a Valve in said valve casing for controlling the paseage of air through said casing and a tubular I member having one end connected with said 1 valve casing;- and provided on its opposite i end with an exhaust cup.

' In testimony whereof I have hereunto set i my hand in presence of two subscribing it i nesses.

N ATH AN IEL LOMBA RD.

\Yitnesses GLENARA Fox, C. F. HUMPmzeY. 

